Pipe-cleaner.



T. J. SA YRB. I PIPE CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1912.

Patented July 29, 1913.

THEODORE J. SAYRE, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FRED-ERICK L. VAN NESS, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND ONE-THIRD TO OSCARWILLIGEROD, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

PIPE-CLEANE R.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE J. SAYRE, citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Cleaners; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a cleaner for the stems of smoking pipes, thecleaner having cleaner elements which are rigid on the body portion, butthe whole body portion is somewhat pliable so that the cleaner can bepassed through curved pipe stems. The elements are helical so that allparts of the bore in the stem can be cleaned by a cutting or shearingaction, but the cleaner is of a form to permit its being easily-cleaned.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 is a side view of my improved cleaner for the stems of pipes.Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the cleaner. Figs. 3 and 4 aresections of strands of modified form from which cleaners can be made.The cleaner consists of a strand 10, preferably metal, which is formedwith the helical edges 11, the strand thus having cleaner elementsformed along its sides, the edges being rigid in their relation with thestrand, that is, they are not resilient, but the whole strand can bebent to pass through the bore of a curved pipe stem. The corrugations 12between the edges 11 follow the helical disposition of the edges andform pockets in which the dirt lining the stem is carried when thecleaner is withdrawn.

The cleaner can be made in any usual manner, but is preferably formed ofa rectangular strand which is twisted to form the helical edges 11 andis bent into a suitable handle 13. The strand can be of any de-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15, 1912.

Patented July so, 1913.

Serial No. 715,160.

sired cross-section, two modified forms being shown in Figs. 3 .and 4.In Fig. 3 a flat strip 14 is twisted into helices 15, and in Fig. 4: astrand 16 with indented sides 17 forming cutting edges 18 is bent intothe convolutions 19. The convolutions of all the forms are made with acoarse pitch so that the cleaner can be; easily inserted and withdrawninto and from the pipe stem. The forward end 20 of the strand ispreferably left straight so that if the convolutions or edges 11 engagea very much obstructed stem, the strand is caused to turn,

- which turns the straight portion 20, and this part then acts as areamer in the bore of the stem. The straight forward end also makes iteasier for the eye to observe the insertion of the end of the cleaner inthe bore of the stem, since the strand is small and a convoluted endwould be disconcerting to aperson, particularly one with poor eyesight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A cleaner forpipe stems consisting of a metal strand square in cross-section, saidstrand being twisted to form helical cutting edges, said strand having ahandle on one end, the end of the strand opposite the handle having itscutting edges straight.

2. A cleaner for pipes consisting of a single piece of wire square incross-section and having its corners longitudinally par allel for ashort distance from one end, the straight corner merging into helicalcutting edges for a considerable distance so that- August 1912.

THEODORE J. SAYRE.

Witnesses:

WM. H. OAMFIELD, M. A. JoHNsoN.

